Vehicle wheel



J H. HUNT VEHICLE 'WHEEL .h le 8, 1937.

Filed July 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. .f/aro/d Hanf HIS ATTORNEY.

June s, 1937. J H, HUNT '2,083,066

VEHICLE wliEEL FiledfJuly 27, 193s 2 sneek-sheet 2 INVENTOR. f//afo/a Hanf A'Patented June i937 I I narran srl-aras PATENT oFFlxcE .l' Harold Hunt, Lansing, iii-ich., assigner to Motor Wheel Corporation, Iansingrlliich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 27, 1933, Serial No. 682,373

s clams. (ci. soi-s3) This invention relates to vehicle wheels and Figure II is l a partial cross sectional view more particularly to a novel wheel body in'terthrough another portion of the same wheel;

posed between a conventional hub and rim and Figure III is a partialfront'view in elevation the combination therewith of a cover therefor. of the cover shownlin Figures I and Il?b 5 The principal feature of the invention con- Figure IV isa front view in elevation of the 5 sists in the provision of a wheel body comprising wheel body forming-a part of the wheel illustrated a substantially square blank of sheet metal. This in Figures I and II;

blank is adapted to be attached centrally to a Figure V is a cross sectional View through the Wheelhub. A wheel rim is mounted upon the cover taken on substantially the line V-V of perimeter of the blank. Normally the rim does Figure III;

not contact the blank but is supported by the Figure VI is a cross sectional view through the lugs carried thereby. The corners of the blank cover taken on substantially the line VI-Vl oi serve to center the rim when it is mounted. y Figure III; and,

The rim is preferably of the demountable type Figure VII is a cross sectional view through having four attaching lugs permanently conthe cover taken on substantially the line VII-VII l5 nected to the inner surface thereof. These lugs of Figure III.

' have radially extending portionsadapted to. conf- The wheel illustrated in Figures I and II comtact corresponding portions of the wheel body prises a hub f, a wheel body H, a brake drum at the corners thereof. The lugs are demountl2, a rim I3, and a cover It.

ably attached to the wheel body by means of The wheel body Il, as best shown in Figure 20 securing bolts. IV, consists of a squareblank preferably formed The sheet metal wheel body is preferably' of sheet metal. The corner portions of the blank formed with its inner hub attaching zone and are cut away as shown and a laterally extending outer rim attaching zone lying in substantially vflange I5 is fformed about the perimetervof the the same radial plane and with an intermediate blank. The flange l5 thus provides a rim cen- 25 brake drum attaching zone lying in a radial plane tering seat I6 at each corner of the blank in spaced from the plane of the said-other zones. the formof a segment of a cylinder;

The brake drum is permanently attached to the The wheel body is deeply dished in its intermid portion of the wheel body.v .e mediate portion to provide an outer rim attach- By reason of the square formation of the sheet ing zone represented by fiat radial extending 30 metal wheel body the rim is spaced radially from portions I1 at each corner, an inner hub atthe portions of the perimeter of the wheel body taching zone comprising a radially extending intermediatethe corners thereof. A cover is annular portionl it and an intermediate brake therefore preferably provided to conceal the undrum attaching zone comprising a radially exf finished appearance of the wheel'body. The cover tending annular portion I9. vAsbest (shown in 35 may be of any desired form and is preferably de- Figure I, the rim and hub attaching zones lie in tachably connected directly tothe inner surface substantially the same radial plane while the of the rim by means of a plurality of resilient brake-drum attaching zone lies in a radial plane iasteners secured to the inner surface of the rim spaced axially inward from the said other zones.

intermediate the attaching lugs. The cover is A circular opening 2t is'provided inthe center :40 provided with alaterally extending periphern of the Wheel body- Sutable openings 2i for the flange adapted to contact the inner surface of reception 0f attaching means are formed in the the rim whereby to present a finished appearance hub attaching 2011 i8. Similar openings 22 for for the outside of ai WheeL Where the cover ,is the reception of attaching means are formed in held in position by resilient fasteners carried by the rim a 'suitable slot or groove is provided in penmg. for th? recepmon of g' Stud 1S for-med the cover adjacent its periphery 'for the recep-J rtg? hgyzone n adlant each cor" g1? fergegdtl by means 0f which the over The hub lo has the usual radially extending 'gh ef dbodi f h flange 24 provided with a shoulder-25 adjacent its 50 e P F erre em mem' 0 t e Plesent 1n' inner extremity and an inclined annular contactvention 1s illustrated in the accompanying drawing Surface 2g adjacent its outer extremity. The ings wherein. wheel body Il is mounted upon thehub with its Figure I is a partial cross sectional view of a inner edge 21, defining the central opening 2U, 5g vehicle wheel; seated upon the shoulder 25 with its annular hub 55 the brake drumattaching zone I9. A single (i5 .attaching zone I8 contacting the face of the hub flange 24 and with its dished annular portion immediately adjacent the hub 'attaching zone I8 contacting the inclined annular surface 26. The hub flange 24 is provided with openings registering with the openings 2| in the wheel body. Rivets 28 extending through these registering openings permanentlyattach thev wheel body to the. hub flange.

Four circumferentially spaced apart rim attaching lugs 29 are permanently secured to the inner surfaceA of the base of the rimY I3 by rivets 30. Each rim attaching lug 29 includes a radially extending portion 3l provided with an opening adapted to register with the openings 23 in the rim attaching zone II of the wheel body. A securing bolt 32 projecting through each of the openings, 23 and which is preferably permanently attached to the wheelbody extends through the opening in the radial portion 3I of each of the y. lugs 29 when the rim is mounted upon the cir- 25 tremity of the bolts cumferentially spaced apart rim seats I6. The rim is held in positionupon the wheel body by means of nuts 33 threaded on to the -outer ex- 32 whereby the radially ex`- tending portion 3| of the lug islocked against the radially extending portions I'Iof the wheel body.

When the rim is'thus securedin position it 30 may contact the rim seats I6 or may be spaced slightly therefrom but is spaced radially from the portions of the perimeter of the wheel `body II intermediate the corners thereof, as clearly shown in Figure II.

'I'he brake drum I2, which may be ofI any con-v ventional form and which is here shown as of the type which has a cast wear-resisting inner liner 34, is provided with a radially extending attaching flange 35 at one edge thereof and a stifening rib 36 adjacent the other edge. The radially extending attaching flange 35 is provided with circumferentially spaced apart openings adapted to register with the openings 22 inthe brake drum attaching zone I9 of the Wheel body. The brake drum is permanently attached to the wheel body by means of rivets 31 projecting through these registering openings.

As is Well known, brake drums have a tendency to expand when subjected to severe or prolonged usage. In the present construction the wheel body II is designed to accommodate itself to some extent to this radial expansion and Subscquent contraction of the brake drum whereby to prevent distortion thereof. This is made possible by reason of the deeply dished formation of the wheel body and the fact that the wheel body is confined by the rim only at the corners thereof.

The cover I4, which ishere shown as being of generally frusto-conical formation, has a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings 38 formed therein adjacent the periphery thereof which provide intermediate spoke portions 39..

'I'he formation of the spokes 39 is clearly shown in Figures III and VII.

'Ihe periphery of the cover is formed with a radially extending annular portion 40 constituting a continuation of the spokes 39 and an annular integral axially extending'ange 4 I. The centrol portion of the cover is preferably impeiforate but designed to receive a removable disk 42 simulating the appearance of a conventional hub cap. 'I'his disk member 42 may be dispensed with entirely or may be permanently attached to the cover I4, if desired.

The cover I4 is preferably removably attached prevent interference with to the inner surface of the base of the rim I3 by means of resilient retention members 43 permanently secured to the inner surface of the rim I3 by means of rivets 44. The resilient retention devices 43 are secured to the rim at circumferentially spaced apart points intermediate the rim attaching lugs 29.

The peripheral flange 4I of the cover I4 is provided at circumferentially spaced apart intervals with depressed portions 45 which are engaged by thebeads 46 formed adjacent the outer extremities of the retention devices 43.

Suitable grooves or slots 41 are formed in the flange 4I adjacent the depressions 45 for the reception of a tool which may be' utilized for removing the cover.

When the cover is installed the peripheral flange 4l thereof'contacts the inner surface of the base of the rim I3, as shown. In order to provide a snug fit between these parts the flange 4I is cut away at f our points, as indicated at 48, to the rim attaching lugs 29.

The cover I4 may, if desired, be permanently attached to the rim I3 in which case the rim attaching lugs 29 will be-suitably arranged so that access may be had to the nuts 33 through the openings 38 between the spoke portions 39. By this arrangement the rim and attached cover may be readily removed and installed. Where the cover is permanently attached to the rim it is preferably formed with acentral opening which is closedby a removable hub cap similar to the v false cap or decorative plate 42.

From the foregoing description it will. be apparent that this invention provides a sturdy but inexpensive wheel whic when the cover is installed, presents a finished and pleasing exterior appearance. While only the preferred form of the invention should be` understood that the invention is not limited'thereto but that it is coextensive with the scope ofthe appended claims.

1. In a vehicle Wheel, the combination with a rim of a Wheel body therefor comprising a substantially square blank of metal of such size that the lengths of its sides are materially less and the diagonal distances between its corners are substantially equal to the internal diameter of the rim, and means for securing the rim upon the four corners of the blank.

2. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a rim of a wheel body therefor comprising a dished substantially square blank of metal of such size that the lengthsof its sides are materially less and the diagonal distances between its corners are substantially equal to the internal diameter of the rim, and means for securing the rim upon the four corners of the blank.

3. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with ia rim of a wheel body therefor comprising a substantially square blank of metal having arcuate rim seats of limited circumferential extent at its has been shown'and described it.

Cai

rim seats of limited circumferential' extent at each of .thefour corners, the size of the blank being such that the lengths of its sides are materially less and the diagonal distances between the arcuate rim seats at thecorners are substantially equal to the internal diameter of the rim, and means for securing the rim upon the arcuate rim seats at the four corners of the blank.

5. Irv'a vehicle wheel, the combination with a rim of -a wheel body therefor comprising a substantially square blank of metal having axially extending arcuate rim seats of limited circumferential extent at each of the four corners and axially extendingv web portions along the'sides of the blank between the corners, the size of the blank beingsuch that the lengths of its sides are materially less and the diagonal distances between the arcuate rim seats at its corners are subtantially equal to the internal diameter of the rim, and means for securing the rim upon the arcuate rim seats at the four corners of the blank.

6. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a rim of a wheelbody comprising a substantially square blank of metal having a central portion adapted lfor attachment to awheel hub vand having rim seats at each of its four corners, the size of the wheel body being such that the distance between opposite sides midway between the corners is materially less and the dlstancesbetween the diagonally opposite corners are substantially equal to the internal diameter of the rim, and means for securing the rim upon the rim seats at the four corners of the wheel body.

J HAROLD HUNT. 

